Greetings Dear Readers, thanks for coming back again. I am honored you are enjoying my story. I apologize for the time between postings-I promise to try to post more frequently. Enjoy…
Warnings for references to non-con and child abuse.
I do not own Criminal Minds or cannon characters, and am making no profit.
Chapter 18
"Daddy, do you think Miss Ann could find another English Book for me? Something more advanced?" queried Spencer. "There is still so much regarding standard speech patterns that I fail to comprehend."
Once he felt able to speak again, Hotch responded "I will ask her when she wakes up later. Meanwhile, do you feel like drawing again? Your pictures are really helping Daddy figure out who abducted all of those women that you saw."
"I would be happy to," the boy exclaimed, "It is very enjoyable to draw, especially if it is helping you!"
"Spencer, I am very proud of how fast you are learning, but I'm curious as to where you learned all of these advanced words. You were deprived of conversation for a long time." Asked Hotch in a gentle tone.
"From the dictionary I found. I understood the meanings of most of the words, but was unaware as to how to use them in a sentence until reading this book." replied the child earnestly. "I realize that this is an elementary school level book, though, so I can but assume that a book from a more advanced level would answer my questions."
"I'm sure it will" replied the amazed and impressed Hotch. "If the hospital doesn't have one, I'll send someone out to find one, ok Buddy? Let me get your paper and pencils and get started drawing, alright? Do you want anything to drink or eat? We need to keep you hydrated and get some meat on your bones kiddo."
"I would like some water, please. I am currently still full from breakfast." Spencer replied.
"Ok, we'll get you some water," said Hotch with a smile. "I have one more question for you first, though. Remember the man wearing the long black hair wig and floppy hat? His DNA matched a sample the doctors recovered from you. Do you know what DNA is?" The boy nodded. "He didn't match any of the drawings you made of men though, and you only mentioned 6 names of men that had hurt you, but there were 7 different DNA samples" Hotch continued. "Is there anyone else you remember?"
"No, I do not remember a 7th man, however 2 days before you rescued me something unusual occured. I had been given water in my bowl, and I fell asleep immediately upon finishing it. When I woke up I was on the bed, and there were cuts on my chest that I did not remember seeing before. I also noted significant anal pain and fresh blood on my legs." The child relayed in a matter of fact tone. "My assumption at the time was that I had been sedated, which puzzled me greatly."
"I think you were correct in that assumption, but why did it puzzle you?" responded Hotch, struggling to keep his voice steady and calm while fighting back tears.
"Because the men all seemed to receive as much satisfaction from my expressions of pain as they did from the sexual intercourse. They would frequently encourage me to scream loudly during the assault and when they beat or cut me. Why would anyone have hurt me when I was not conscious to scream?" replied the boy, with a frankly curious expression on his face.
That was it-Hotch could contain himself no longer. "I'll be right back" he hurriedly exclaimed and dashed out into the sitting room, snatching up a wastepaper basket just in time to catch his breakfast as nausea overwhelmed him. He sat down in a chair, weakly clutching the basket until the vomiting subsided, not even attempting to hide the tears streaming down his paled cheeks. "How could they have done those things to such a sweet little child?! And he's so calm and impersonal about it all, like he thinks he deserved it somehow. My God! What strength…and after everything he's been through to care so much about the victim in the floor…" thought the distressed BAU chief. "We have to catch these bastards now, before anymore innocents have to suffer!" he declared out loud as the nausea passed and his tears were replaced with angry determination.
A hand gently clasped Hotch's shoulder as Rossi's voice came from behind him, "What did he tell you?"
"That he was drugged unconscious a couple days before we found him and woke up with new injuries, but didn't understand why because the other men all got off on hearing him scream." he ground out. "I want these monsters off the street Dave! Yesterday!"
"I think we're all with you there, Aaron. Why don't you sit a moment and get yourself together while I bring the piccolo his drawing stuff, eh?" responded Rossi as he gave Hotch's shoulder an understanding squeeze then headed toward the counter holding the art supplies.
"Thanks Dave. Could you bring him a water also? He's thirsty." Hotch called after the Italian. Someone quietly tucked a tissue into his hand and gave his back a brief sympathetic rub. Concentrating on his breathing and wiping his eyes, Aaron was soon calm and in control again. Taking a quick glance about the room, he saw his team members engrossed in files or otherwise working the case, and permitted himself a brief nod of satisfaction. "We WILL catch these bastards, and they will pay for what they've done."
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Rossi strolled into Spencer's room, being careful to not disturb the sleeping nurse. The boy was gazing intently at the door with concern, hands worrying the sheets. "Is Daddy OK?" the boy nervously inquired, "Did I make him mad?"
"No little one, your Papa isn't mad at you, he's angry with the ones who hurt you, and just got a little sick in his stomach. Don't worry, he'll be ok. Now here are your pencils and paper. Do you feel up to drawing more of the women you saw in the basement?" said Rossi with a gentle smile as he placed the supplies and a bottle of water on the bedside table and pulled it closer to the boy.
"Of course, anything to help rescue them, and find their abductor," came the determined reply.
Rossi dropped into the chair next to the child's bed as he stared at the boy in amazement. "Spencer! When did you learn to talk like an adult?"
Looking down shyly, the boy replied "I have been reading high school level books for some time. I gained my vocabulary from a dictionary, but was unskilled in sentence structure and grammar until reading this English book. There is still much more to learn before I am proficient."
The impressed Italian could only shake his head in wonder. "Well kiddo, you're going to make your Papa proud with your marks in school, that's for sure!"
"I get to go to school?!" squealed the boy excitedly. "Really and truly? When? I know-after you catch the bad men, right? I need to get these portraits done…" and the child began drawing at an astounding speed.
"Don't let him wear himself out, OK? And make sure he eats a snack at 10:00." Came Ann's sleepy voice from behind them. She then turned over and snuggled back down into the pillow.
"You got it Bella" replied Rossi. He could have sworn he heard her snort "Smooth Talker!" before soft snores began to fill the quiet room.